Parenting developmentally disabled children will always be a special challenge. It need not be a nightmare. In addition to meeting the usual parenting challenges, parents of disabled children face a gauntlet of added obstacles that can try the resolve and resources of even the strongest families. But navigating the complex
medical, educational, occupational, and social issues can be made easier with the right information.

Friday, November 03, 2006

Time changes to and from daylight savings time is something we deal with every year. It effects Billy Ray and even his service dog, Penny Lane, every time. Both are very routine oriented. Going to bed is the internal time clock not the one on the wall.

If this is an issue for your child, you can try adjusting little things such as dinner time, chores, etc. in tiny increments leading up to the actual time change. It helps to get modification of routine started rather than immediate change.

We got caught offguard this year and didn’t begin modifying his schedule like I normally would. Billy Ray is going through some life changes relative to changes in his chemistry from medications he took for Acid Relfex but doesn’t need since surgery to repair the Acid Reflex, substantially reduced appetite (so we are doing lots of tiny meals) and difference in energy level.

Before our recent time change he was already wanting to go to sleep much earlier than normal. I think that it is because he is eating less since surgery and he runs out of energy earlier in the day. If he does that, he will be up for the day by 2-4 a.m. besides the usual short periods of waking up during his sleep. It takes longer to adjust since we didn’t prepare for it this time.

As in everything the need to anticipate, adapt and communicate applies to time changes.

I don’t remember if I posted this picture before or not. It was snapped about a year ago when Billy Ray had gotten up and dressed, done his daily marching routine and was tired. He crawled back in bed and Penny Lane joined him. He then covered her up for a nap together.